Product Profile: Jan. 2000, Taking Advantage of New Equipment Capabilities

Ed Kijewski, partner in Pine Ridge Enterprises, Wallingford, Conn., loves machines, especially when they are as productive as Pine Ridge’s Bark Blowers from Finn Corp., Cincinnati, Ohio. The machines apply mulch, compost and soil mixtures through 4-inch flexible hose with an "aim-and-shoot" technique.

"The only time the machine is idle is when we get snow," said Kijewski. "We use it for mulch applications and for overseeding patchy lawns in lieu of a total renovation. Plus, now we can install interior and rooftop gardens, which gives us a competitive edge."

Kijewski said the company has boosted mulch applications from 1,500 cubic yards to 3,500 cubic yards with the new machines.

And the advantages of versatile equipment are several, not the least of which is increased profit through higher production and reduced reliance on labor.

"With this equipment, one operator can get as much done at the end of a day as at the beginning because it is easy to operate and is not physically demanding," said Kijewski. "We can take a crew of one or two to operate the Bark Blower and do the work it used to take eight or 10 people to do."

The units give the company the ability to better serve customers as well. "We’re in and out before customers know we’ve even been there," observed Kijewski. "And, with the hose application, we don’t trample the lawns with equipment and a large crew."

Pine Ridge started with the smallest model Bark Blower, then traded up twice to larger sized truck-mounted units.

"We are going to get the 40-cubic-yard unit this spring and keep our latest truck-mounted unit, so we’ll have more than twice our current capacity," said Kijewski. "Every time we do a job, it’s like earning and advertising at the same time. People come up to us on almost every job and want us to do their work too."

Kijewski also said the Bark Blower has improved customer service. "Because the work is so easy to do, we make three mulch applications in summer and fall to keep mulch beds looking fresh," he said.

Pine Ridge also has a speedy technique for mulching islands in parking lots. "One man drives the Bark Blower from island to island. Using a short hose, mulch is applied in about five minutes. Then a crewmember sweeps up, and we’re done. The client likes that we don’t interfere with traffic flow."

Kijewski expects to further expand the Pine Ridge business with a larger Bark Blower. "The 40-yard unit will allow us to service local sports fields, especially for top dressing and overseeding in a single application," he explained. "The fact that sports fields are wide-open flat areas makes it ideal for one man to apply soil mixtures to cover worn areas."

Perhaps best of all, the machines have paid for themselves within one year. "Sometimes you find a piece of equipment that is unique enough to be its own profit center. That’s what we’ve found with the Bark Blower. We’re simply taking advantage of the machine’s capabilities to grow our business," Kijewski concluded.